Big Win at Tokyo International Film Festival for FSS-Supported Film Sister Brother Manhole Cover
A major success for European cinema in Japan! Sister Brother Manhole Cover by Milcho Manchevski (North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Italy, UK, 2026) has won the top prize Tokyo Grand Prix at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival (26 Oct – 4 Nov)
Represented internationally by Coccinelle Film Sales (Italy), the film received €5,400 in FSS support through EFP’s new funding call for promotional campaigns of European films at festivals outside Europe. The funding includes FSS Top-Up Grant, awarded in recognition of the film’s focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. With this additional incentive, EFP aims to encourage sales companies to invest more in promoting films that champion these values.
The award highlights how targeted promotional support can help European films gain international visibility and recognition, even at festivals like the Tokyo Film Festival with a traditionally strong focus on Asian cinema.
The jury praised the film in its statement:
"For its seamless blending of humour, tragedy and drama, for the humanity and compassion shown towards its characters, for a complex, coherent film that manages to be both touching and playful, the Tokyo Grand Prix, Governor of Tokyo Award for Best Film, goes to SISTER BROTHER MANHOLE COVER."
Film Sales Support for Sister Brother Manhole Cover is backed by Creative Europe MEDIA.
